MANIPULATOR FOR AN INSTRUMENT FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY, AND SUCH AN INSTRUMENT

A manipulator is provided for an instrument for minimally invasive surgery. The manipulator is provided with a main axis accommodated in a bearing for coupling the manipulator to a solid world, and is provided with a first moveable carriage, on which first carriage the instrument is detachably mounted. The first carriage is positioned on a first arm that connects to a parallelogram construction comprising the main axis, and a handle being placed on, or forming part of, a second arm connected to the parallelogram construction opposite the first arm. Both the instrument and the handle extend below the main axis such that a body axis of that handle always extends parallel to the instrument to provide the instrument with a fixed virtual pivoting point in the plane in which the instrument intersects the body of a patient. The fixed virtual pivot point lies on a virtual line in the extended direction of the main axis and allows pivoting of the instrument about three planes, in accordance with movement of said handle, whereby the fixed virtual pivot point remains fixed independent of the movements of the instrument and said handle.